STRUCTURE & FUNCTION OF THE BODY
16TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)KEVIN T. PATTON; GARY
A. THIBODEAU
1.
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Levels of Organization &
Homeostasis
Question stem
A 68-year-old patient in the emergency department shows signs
of hypotension and tachycardia after a large gastrointestinal
bleed. The nurse recalls that organ systems interact to maintain
blood pressure. Which description best explains how a
reduction in blood volume leads to immediate compensatory
increases in heart rate and vascular resistance?
Options
A. Decreased blood volume lowers venous return, reducing
stroke volume; baroreceptor activation increases sympathetic
output to raise heart rate and vasoconstrict.
B. Low blood volume directly stimulates the sinoatrial node to
increase intrinsic firing rate, causing tachycardia and secondary
,vasoconstriction.
C. Reduced blood volume decreases plasma oncotic pressure,
so capillary filtration increases and heart rate rises to restore
oncotic balance.
D. Loss of blood volume causes an immediate increase in renal
blood flow, triggering renin release and direct vasodilation to
preserve organ perfusion.
Correct answer
A
Rationales
Correct (A): A fall in venous return lowers stroke volume by the
Frank–Starling mechanism. Arterial baroreceptors sense
decreased stretch and stimulate sympathetic output, increasing
heart rate and vasoconstriction to maintain mean arterial
pressure. This links organ-level circulatory physiology to system-
level compensation important for nursing assessment.
Incorrect (B): The sinoatrial node’s intrinsic rate is not directly
changed by circulating volume; autonomic input, not direct
volume sensing by the SA node, mediates heart rate changes.
Incorrect (C): Plasma oncotic pressure changes occur with
protein loss, not acute hemorrhage; capillary filtration is not the
key immediate response to hypovolemia.
Incorrect (D): Renin–angiotensin responses occur but cause
vasoconstriction (not vasodilation) and are slower than
baroreflex-mediated sympathetic responses.
,Teaching point
Baroreceptor-mediated sympathetic activation is the immediate
response to acute hypovolemia.
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
2.
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Anatomical Position &
Directions
Question stem
A confused patient points to the lateral aspect of the forearm
and asks the nurse where the ulnar pulse is normally located.
Using correct anatomical directional terms, how should the
nurse instruct the patient to palpate for the ulnar pulse relative
to the anatomical position?
Options
A. Medial to the palmar surface of the wrist, near the ulna.
B. Lateral to the palmar surface of the wrist, near the radius.
C. Anterior to the dorsal wrist, adjacent to the thumb.
D. Posterior to the elbow, between the olecranon and lateral
epicondyle.
Correct answer
A
, Rationales
Correct (A): In anatomical position, the ulnar pulse is palpated
on the medial (toward the midline) side of the wrist adjacent to
the ulna. This uses directional language to guide bedside
assessment.
Incorrect (B): Lateral relative to anatomical position refers
toward the radius and thumb; this describes the radial pulse,
not ulnar.
Incorrect (C): “Anterior to the dorsal wrist” is contradictory; the
ulnar pulse is medial and on the palmar/volar aspect, not near
the thumb.
Incorrect (D): Posterior to the elbow describes a different region
(olecranon area) and is not where the ulnar pulse is palpated.
Teaching point
Use anatomical position: ulnar = medial wrist near the ulna;
radial = lateral wrist near the radius.
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
3.
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Planes of the Body &
Clinical Imaging
16TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)KEVIN T. PATTON; GARY
A. THIBODEAU
1.
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Levels of Organization &
Homeostasis
Question stem
A 68-year-old patient in the emergency department shows signs
of hypotension and tachycardia after a large gastrointestinal
bleed. The nurse recalls that organ systems interact to maintain
blood pressure. Which description best explains how a
reduction in blood volume leads to immediate compensatory
increases in heart rate and vascular resistance?
Options
A. Decreased blood volume lowers venous return, reducing
stroke volume; baroreceptor activation increases sympathetic
output to raise heart rate and vasoconstrict.
B. Low blood volume directly stimulates the sinoatrial node to
increase intrinsic firing rate, causing tachycardia and secondary
,vasoconstriction.
C. Reduced blood volume decreases plasma oncotic pressure,
so capillary filtration increases and heart rate rises to restore
oncotic balance.
D. Loss of blood volume causes an immediate increase in renal
blood flow, triggering renin release and direct vasodilation to
preserve organ perfusion.
Correct answer
A
Rationales
Correct (A): A fall in venous return lowers stroke volume by the
Frank–Starling mechanism. Arterial baroreceptors sense
decreased stretch and stimulate sympathetic output, increasing
heart rate and vasoconstriction to maintain mean arterial
pressure. This links organ-level circulatory physiology to system-
level compensation important for nursing assessment.
Incorrect (B): The sinoatrial node’s intrinsic rate is not directly
changed by circulating volume; autonomic input, not direct
volume sensing by the SA node, mediates heart rate changes.
Incorrect (C): Plasma oncotic pressure changes occur with
protein loss, not acute hemorrhage; capillary filtration is not the
key immediate response to hypovolemia.
Incorrect (D): Renin–angiotensin responses occur but cause
vasoconstriction (not vasodilation) and are slower than
baroreflex-mediated sympathetic responses.
,Teaching point
Baroreceptor-mediated sympathetic activation is the immediate
response to acute hypovolemia.
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
2.
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Anatomical Position &
Directions
Question stem
A confused patient points to the lateral aspect of the forearm
and asks the nurse where the ulnar pulse is normally located.
Using correct anatomical directional terms, how should the
nurse instruct the patient to palpate for the ulnar pulse relative
to the anatomical position?
Options
A. Medial to the palmar surface of the wrist, near the ulna.
B. Lateral to the palmar surface of the wrist, near the radius.
C. Anterior to the dorsal wrist, adjacent to the thumb.
D. Posterior to the elbow, between the olecranon and lateral
epicondyle.
Correct answer
A
, Rationales
Correct (A): In anatomical position, the ulnar pulse is palpated
on the medial (toward the midline) side of the wrist adjacent to
the ulna. This uses directional language to guide bedside
assessment.
Incorrect (B): Lateral relative to anatomical position refers
toward the radius and thumb; this describes the radial pulse,
not ulnar.
Incorrect (C): “Anterior to the dorsal wrist” is contradictory; the
ulnar pulse is medial and on the palmar/volar aspect, not near
the thumb.
Incorrect (D): Posterior to the elbow describes a different region
(olecranon area) and is not where the ulnar pulse is palpated.
Teaching point
Use anatomical position: ulnar = medial wrist near the ulna;
radial = lateral wrist near the radius.
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
3.
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Planes of the Body &
Clinical Imaging
